Getting To The Bottom of Colon Vs. Rectal Cancer

#1 In Colon and Rectal Cancer, Location Matters

Your colon and rectum are roughly 5 feet long, while your rectum is the very last 6 inches before stool exits your body. To differentiate between where your colon starts and your rectum begins takes years of experience and specialized training. So, why should it matter if a cancerous colorectal tumor is found in one section of the colon or the rectum?  

“Though cancers of the colon and rectum appear similar, the treatments are very different because of where the rectum is located in the body. The rectum is located deep in the pelvis and surrounded by other organs. This makes treatment more challenging and requires specialty care,” said Dipen Maun, MD, colorectal specialist with Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Colon and Rectal Specialists  in  Mooresville and Indianapolis. “Tumors located in the colon are further away from other organs and surgery is usually simpler.”

Tumors of the rectum that grow larger could be dangerous to other surrounding pelvic organs. Rectal cancer specialists are highly trained to perform complex surgeries in this area of the body. This can lessen the threat to your nearby vital organs.

#2 Colon and Rectal Cancer Symptoms ARE Similar

Regardless of your age or gender, any noticeable colon or rectal cancer symptoms should not be ignored. According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms for both cancers are almost the same and include:

• Bleeding or blood in the stool
• Abdominal pain
• Changes in bowel habits
• Feeling weak or tired
• Vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss

Physicians will use the same approach to diagnose both colon and rectal cancer. Even though your rectum is a more crowded area of the lower intestines, a colonoscopy screening can visualize problematic areas of your rectum and colon to gather samples to biopsy. Once those samples are biopsied, experienced colorectal specialists can help you make decisions about further treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy or targeted radiation, depending on which area is affected and the stage of your cancer.

#3 Rectal Cancer Surgery Is Complex

In a typical colon cancer surgery, physicians can remove part of the affected colon and reconnect it to another healthy section of the colon. This procedure is called a partial colectomy. The procedure is often successful, and you can have normal bowel movements again without the need for a colostomy, an operation where the colon is connected to a hole in the abdomen and fixed with an ostomy that collects waste.

However, in rectal cancer surgery, because the anal sphincter muscle controls the opening and closing of your anus, you’ll want to find a rectal cancer specialist with plenty of experience who has performed high volumes of these complicated surgeries. A rectal cancer prognosis is contingent on the severity of the disease and the success of removing affected areas to limit the chance of recurrence. Finding a rectal cancer surgeon who is well versed in the anatomy of the anus, sphincter and muscles of the rectum could mean the difference between a temporary ostomy and a permanent one.

Recently, Franciscan Health’s rectal cancer specialists were recognized as the first and only hospital system in Indiana to earn accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer.

#4 Stool Test Vs. Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer

There are many tests to screen for colon or rectal cancer. As you work with your primary care physician to determine the right test for you, it’s important to account for your risk factors. The American Cancer Society says that familial inheritance, being of African American descent, age, being overweight and excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, processed foods or red meat puts you at an increased risk.

Although an at-home stool test is a great option for those that may not be at high risk for developing colorectal cancer, any positive result will need a follow-up colonoscopy screening. Colonoscopies remain the gold standard in detecting colon or rectal cancer earlier. Sophisticated imaging of the colon and rectum allows physicians to closely examine where the precancerous polyps or cancerous growths are located. A colonoscopy screening could help physicians provide a more accurate diagnosis.

“Colonoscopies are now recommended at age 45 for both men and women in Indiana. As a result, we’re able to help patients detect cancer significantly earlier than before,” said Dr. Maun. “We’re seeing younger people develop precancerous polyps due to a variety of factors. Still, with colonoscopy screenings, we’re essentially preventing cancer from progressing into something unmanageable. Colonoscopies have increased survival rates in both colon and rectal cancer.”

#5 No Butts About It, We All Have Colons and Rectums!

When it comes to colon cancer and rectal cancer, we can’t be embarrassed about our derrieres. We all have them, and we all should keep them as healthy as possible. Colonoscopies are often touted as a rather “gross” inconvenience, despite the statistics concluding they save thousands of lives each year. When cancer is not detected in the early stages and grows outside of the colon or rectum, survival rates have been much lower. Any cancer found in any organ of the lower intestines should be treated right away.

Leave colon and rectal cancer behind. Schedule your routine colonoscopy today.